Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 61a - Assessment and Taxation of Agricultural and Horticultural Land
Section 6 - Annual Determination of Eligibility for Valuation; Application; Form; Certification

Section 6. Eligibility of land for valuation, assessment and taxation pursuant to section four shall be determined separately for each tax year. Application therefor shall be submitted to the board of assessors of each city or town in which such land is situated not later than October first of the year preceding each tax year for which such valuation, assessment and taxation are being sought and may not thereafter be withdrawn. Application shall be made on a form prescribed by the commissioner of revenue and provided for the use of claimants by said board of assessors. Such form shall provide for the reporting of information pertinent to the provisions of this chapter and of Article XCIX of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth and for certification by the applicant that he will immediately notify the board of assessors in writing of any subsequently developing circumstance within his control or knowledge which may cause a change in use of the land covered by such form prior to October first next following. Any application submitted under this section and covering leased land shall be accompanied by a written statement signed by any lessee of his intent to use such land for the purposes set forth in said application. A certification by a landowner that the information set forth in his application is true may be prescribed by said commissioner to be in lieu of a sworn statement to that effect. An application so certified shall be considered as if made under oath and subject to the same penalties as provided by law for perjury.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title IX - Taxation

Chapter 61a - Assessment and Taxation of Agricultural and Horticultural Land

Section 1 - Land in Agricultural Use Defined

Section 2 - Land in Horticultural Use Defined

Section 2a - Land Used to Site Renewable Energy Generating Source

Section 3 - Land of Five-Acre Minimum Area Actively Devoted to Agricultural or Horticultural Uses Defined; Gross Sales and Program Payment Standard

Section 4 - Valuation of Land in Agricultural, Etc. Use; Contiguous Land; Tax Rate

Section 4a - Tax Rate for Land Actively Devoted to Agricultural or Horticultural Use

Section 5 - Contiguous Land Under One Ownership Within More Than One City or Town

Section 6 - Annual Determination of Eligibility for Valuation; Application; Form; Certification

Section 7 - Additional Assessment; Change in Use in Pre-Tax Year Between October 1 and June 30

Section 8 - Timely Filing of Application in Towns or Cities With Programs of Revaluation Not Completed by October 1 of Pre-Tax Year

Section 9 - Allowance or Disallowance of Application for Valuation; Notice; Liens

Section 10 - Factors to Be Considered in Valuing Land

Section 11 - Farmland Valuation Advisory Commission; Expenditures

Section 12 - Sale of Land or Change of Use; Liability for Conveyance Tax; Exemptions

Section 13 - Change of Use; Liability for Roll-Back Taxes

Section 14 - Sale for or Conversion to Residential or Commercial Use; Notice of Intent to City or Town; Option to Purchase; Assignment of Option

Section 15 - Taxation of Buildings and Land Occupied by Dwelling

Section 16 - Continuance of Land Valuation, Assessment and Taxation Under This Chapter Dependent Upon Qualifying Use

Section 17 - Separation of Land to Other Use; Liability for Conveyance or Roll-Back Taxes; Continuing Qualification of Remainder

Section 18 - Special or Betterment Assessments; Payment; Interest

Section 19 - Roll-Back Taxes; Procedures for Assessment; Appeal to Appellate Tax Board

Section 19a - Sale of Land; Certification of Taxes Paid or Payable

Section 20 - Valuation and Assessment for Purposes Other Than Provisions of This Chapter; Equalization

Section 21 - Factual Details on Tax List

Section 22 - Rules and Regulations; Forms and Procedures

Section 23 - Use of Valuation, Etc. Procedures to Evade Taxes; Penalties

Section 24 - Severability